The Jojo's Bizarre Adventure anime has finally reached Part 6: Stone Ocean, adding a host of new characters to the animated cast. Jojo is known for its iconic fights, over-the-top outfits, and abilities, and, of course, its incredible and memorable characters. As such a long-running and seminal series, plenty of its cast, like DIO or Joseph, has been entrenched in the culture for years, but there are plenty of other stand-out JoJo characters who prove why this series has its reputation.
Though manga-only characters like Gyro Zeppeli and Yasuho are great, the Jojo anime already provides plenty of characters to work with and admire. From lovable allies like Polnareff and Guido Mista to the terrifying Yoshikage Kira, these characters all have more than enough reasons why they've remained in fans' hearts.
Dio Brando
A cunning, sadistic narcissist with a tremendous god complex, Dio is the kind of villain fans love to see--powerful and dangerous, a little campy, and cool enough to almost make you root for him. His stand, The World, is one of the most powerful in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, which makes him an extremely formidable foe coupled with his vampiric abilities.
Starting with Jonathan, Dio's centuries-long grudge against the Joestars has had him, in some form or another, terrorizing the family all the way up to the current series. Whether this is through a willing disciple like Pucci or some kind of artifact, Dio has remained the Joestar's shadow since Jonathan's father first adopted him. With every new Jojo part, the question remains if Dio will really, truly ever be finally defeated.
Giorno Giovanni
Instead of coming from the Joestar bloodline, Giorno, Vento Aureo's Jojo, is the son of DIO--although he never knew his birth father or any of his other illegitimate siblings. Raised in an abusive household and experiencing plenty of hardship growing up, Giorno developed a deeply held sense of justice which led to him developing his goal of redeeming the corrupt Mafia. With his confidence and absolutely unshakable resolve, Giorno never wavers from accomplishing this dream; his single-minded ambition propelling him through any situation he runs into along the way.
Giorno is extremely focused on his mission, and his absolute commitment to success makes him often come off as extremely calm no matter the scenario. With this confidence, Giorno is especially impressive in high-stress situations, able to analyze and strategize no matter what the Mafia throws at him. It doesn't hurt that Giorno's Stand, Gold Experience, is almost bafflingly powerful.
Jean Pierre Polnareff
Polnareff is one of Jotaro's companions in Stardust Crusaders, a Frenchman dedicated to avenging his murdered sister. Polnareff is a big man with a big personality, standing in stark contrast to the serious, withdrawn Jotaro. Impulsive, confident, and passionate, his most notable trait is his absolute dedication to honor--prioritizing acting honorably above all else.
Polnareff's eccentricities and occasional over-the-top antics make him both memorable and endearing, but what has made him a fan favorite is the love he has for his friends. Even though he initially clashes with the group, he becomes extremely close to all his allies--even characters like Iggy, Jojo's iconic Stand-wielding dog, despite their differences in personality. Being the most outwardly emotional, Polnareff always seems to give his all to everything he's feeling, making it hard not to love him just as much as he loves his friends.
Guido Mista
Guido Mista is an easily likable character--a funny, sociable, and seemingly laidback guy, who gets along easily with his whole team and often leads the casual conversation. And while he seems easy-going, Mista reveals a capacity for violence that outpaces many of his team members, slipping out of his carefree persona to become much more serious when it comes to accomplishing his team's goal. While his breezy take on torture can be unsettling, it all comes from his devout loyalty to his companions and their cause.
One of Mista's best attributes is his loyalty, which also translates into how deeply he cares for and looks after his Bullets--the sentient creatures created from his Stand. He is often shown spoiling them and being incredibly attentive to their well-being, and they are equally devoted to Mista. Their interactions are silly sometimes, but also genuinely heartwarming and representative of Mista's deep dedication to his loved ones.
Jotaro Kujo
Probably the most recognizable Jojo, Jotaro has appeared in most parts of the series. His fight against Dio is easily one of the most iconic parts of the series, for both its dire intensity and well-memed panels, and the final form of his Stand, Star Platinum: The World, is among the strongest in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.
Jotaro is not always the most likable of characters, though his flaws make him especially relatable. When first introduced, Jotaro is angry, irresponsible, and mean, but over the course of Stardust, his layers are peeled away to reveal a deeply caring person ready to carry the burdens of the world on his shoulders. However, Jotaro can also be flighty and emotionally stunted, leading to him being a largely absentee father to Jolyne.
Rohan Kishibe
Diamond is Unbreakable's Rohan Kishibe is a renowned mangaka whose life is entirely driven by his absolute devotion to his art. Constantly seeking new experiences as inspiration, Rohan habitually goes to seemingly extreme lengths to investigate things he finds interesting so that he may use them in his manga--including using his Stand to pry into people's minds and histories.
As both a beloved and talented artist and something of a shut-in, Rohan can be often arrogant and stand-offish, clearly lacking in social graces due to his time mostly spent in his sketchbook. However, his particular brand of catty teasing, eccentricities, and blunt honesty can be endearing, especially given that Rohan does have a good heart under it all. On top of all that, his sense of style is undeniable.
Jolyne Cujoh
Jolyne is the protagonist and standout character of the freshly-animated Stone Ocean. The estranged daughter of Jotaro, Jolyne has her father's determination and quick intelligence, and cunning, and some of his own prickly exterior manifests in her brash assertiveness.
Jolyne is often willing to get violent or break rules to reach her goals and doesn't shy away from killing if it's necessary, but she also has an incredible kindness within her and a righteous heart. Despite Jotaro being a pretty disappointing father, Jolyne still does whatever it takes to save him--quite often putting herself in extreme danger. She's more outwardly friendly and sympathetic than Jotaro, but her fierce selflessness is absolutely a family trait.
Yoshikage Kira
Kira is the main antagonist of Diamond is Unbreakable, and one of the most underrated of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. A serial killer who has lived unnoticed in Morioh for years, Kira becomes the focus of Josuke and his allies after they meet the ghost of his first victim, Reimi Sugimoto.
His meticulous, calculated, and obsessive nature makes Kira a particularly terrifying enemy, and this is further intensified when he gains his Stand: Killer Queen. One of the best Stands in JJBA, Killer Queen's ability allows Kira a whole new level of destruction--which he takes to with enthusiasm. Yoshikage Kira is not Jojo's most famous villain, but he is its' most well-written and interesting antagonist.
Josuke Higashitaka
Araki's personal favorite Jojo and the protagonist of Diamond is Unbreakable, Josuke gets along easily with others and is open and upfront with his emotions, though still bearing a kind of shortsightedness and irresponsibility typical for a normal high schooler. He cares deeply about protecting and helping others and is a cunning and adept Stand user, but he also cares about hanging out with his friends and buying cool shoes-- balancing the superhuman determination and heroics of a Joestar with the relatable antics of a slice-of-life anime protagonist.
Josuke is also notable for having a Stand capable of only repairing things, indicative of his inherent kindness. Overall, though lacking the impressive dramatics of some of his relatives, Josuke is easily the most genuinely likable of the Jojos, keeping you rooting for him and his friends the whole way through.
Bruno Bucciarati
The leader of the Mafia team Giorno joins, Bruno Bucciarati is the true protagonist of Vento Aureo. He proves himself to be an incredible and inspiring leader, compassionate and kind towards his companions in a way that often makes them seem like a family, but still capable of critical strategizing and brutal combat when necessary. He's motivated by his strong values and righteousness, easily agreeing with Giorno's plan to reform the Mafia, and this resonates through his every action.
Bruno is one of the best-written characters in Jojo, which is what makes him so beloved. His cold-blooded determination against his enemies, complicated childhood and moral dilemmas, serious nature, and easy kindness make him a complex and interesting individual. Even though Vento Aureo is supposed to be Giorno's story, at its heart is Bruno Bucciarati.